§ 32. Sir Edward Keelingasked the Attorney-General why the travelling and incidental expenses of the staff of the Judge Advocate-General and Judge Advocate of the Fleet have increased this year to £15,000 from £11,000 last year, despite a decrease in the staff from 65 to 60.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe figures quoted by the hon. Member are the estimates and not the actual expenses; in fact, the expenditure in 1951–52 exceeded the estimate by £5,022. Most of this expenditure is incurred in sending judge advocates to Army and Royal Air Force courts-martial which may be held anywhere in the world and it is very difficult to estimate what the cost will be. No expenditure was, in fact, incurred by the Judge Advocate of the Fleet in 1951–52. The staff reductions referred to were of clerks and messengers and did not appreciably affect the cost of travelling.
§ Sir E. KeelingWould it not be a good thing to have given that explanation, possibly more briefly, in the Estimate?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesWould it not be better to bring the men home to be tried?